Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-04-26
THE SECOND TERN.
"A rev More Remarks from Democratic
sources About President Cleyeland,s
Intentions.
ST. LOUIS. Anril o5

special to the Republican from Wash,
lngton, ID. C., says: Disclosures as to the
fresldenrs personal feelings have been ra.
ceived IN such spirit by the press and people
that ne must now see that not even an official
ana authoritative declaration of a resolution
not to go before the people for second term
can arrest any popular inclination to his re.
election.
The realization of the substantial results
so swiftly following the publication of the
speciai, leads some eastern papers to surmise
that the telegram was deliberately put out of
the White House for feeler. The supposi.
tlon Is wholly fallacious. The telegram
went to the Republican without instigatiou
from the President or the Senator with whom
ne talked. The President spoke freely. but
upon the promptings of the moment only and
without any special purpose, while the Sena-
tor recounted the conversation afterxards to
personal friends, without intending that " hat
he told sheuld go to press without injunctions
OF secrecy in either case.
The story got rapid circulation, as matter
OF such interest naturally would, and had
oeen heard by quite number of people be.
lore II came finally into print. 1t is possible
the Senator may have misconstrued the
words OF the President, or misled his friends
afterwards in recalling the Presidents decla.
ration by lack of preciseness in his own Ian.
guage. One significant fact in connection
with the reported expression of the Presidents s
views has not escaped attention. No denial
has yet been made by the President himself
or even protessedly at his direction.
Col Lamont has said he is "quite sure the
President has never said he would or would
not accept renomination," but this is not
the statement of the President and does not
even pretend to be for the President. That
the President will not say openly to the public
what he is reported to have said privately to
Senator, in no manner changes the fact
The project OF letter to be given formally
to the public, this spring, which is reported
on the double authority of Col. Dorsheimer
and Smith M. Weed of New York, is not the
only corroborative testimony.
AT least one member of the cabinet has
said that again and again; and there has been
no denial even within the past two days.
WAsHINGTON, April 25.
President Cleveland is quoted as saying to
gentleman who remarked to him that he
had not been in Washington for twenty years
and did not care to come again unless, be
added, 81 should come down to see you in
augurated for second term" The President
replied with great emphasis:
"My dear Colonel, if you wait for that
event you will never come" The Rochester
man protested, but the President, putting his
hand on his visitors arm, said: "No earthly
consideration could induce me to accept an
other term. When l finish my present term
of office expect to retire from public life. "
New YORK, April 25
Hon. VIM. DOrsheimer makes the following
statement: ''In view OF the reports which
have been sent out by the Washington CORE
| ~f Al
l think it proper to make the following state
ment. In January last the President said to
me that he had been contemplating making a
public declaration which would take him out
of the field as a candidate in 1888. He said
he was led to this conclusion not only by
personal considerations but because he
thought such course would relieve him
from the imputations which were daily cast
upon him and which interfered with his use
fulness in office. After listening to the Pres
ident's observations and supposing he wished
the expression of my opinion, told him
thought such declaration would be very
unwise and it would increase his perplexities
rather than diminish them. | also said that
it was not for him to say whether he would
be candidate for reelection or not. That
was matter TO be decided by the democracy
who had honored him greatly, and who had a
right to his services If they desired them.
l also urged that no tradition would be brok-
en- by his candidacy for the second term, and
that it would be most important to his party
and the country if he should be reelected.
After a long conversation upon the subject
the effect of which was as have stated the
matter was dropped and has not since been
alluded to except in casual manner.
have never had in my possession letter from
the President with reference to second term
nor have ever seen such letter or draft OF
one. | have not been in Washington since
the fourth of this month. If the President
has arrived at tine determination suggested in
his conversation with me last January
don't know it, but knowing well his character
| am confident if he thinks it his duty to de-
cline the nomination he will make his inten-
tion public in a way which will render no
misunderstanding of it if possible.